Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus may provide a wonderful option for students who prefer good old fashioned bricks and mortar education. On campus libraries, face-to-face interactions with professors and classmates, and opportunities to participate in on-campus activities and groups are just some of the many reasons students might prefer on-campus education. Not to mention that some students may prefer to learn through non-digital mediums or a more set and time-sensitive structure. If this is true for you, continue on to read more about on-campus graduate programs in educational leadership and administration.

What is Educational Leadership?

Educational leadership comprises the actions and skillsets of professionals who promote and support student achievement, teacher effectiveness, and institutional success. It may also include the policies and actions professionals take to ensure teachers and other educational faculty are satisfied, supported, and able to effectively do their jobs. Leaders and administrators in the field of education work with faculty, teachers, students, parents, governmental, and other entities to establish and maintain stable, effective, and efficient schools and school systems. They often supervise and support leaders in other areas; establish, manage, and maintain policies; and support and supervise faculty and teachers. Some specific areas of educational leadership and administration include:

K-12 administration and leadership

Community college administration and leadership

Adult education administration and leadership

University administration and leadership

Student affairs administration and leadership

Academic affairs administration and leadership

Administration and leadership in the educational branches of governmental agencies, non-profits, and NGOs

Many professionals in educational leadership and administration may be passionate about education and want to cultivate and support student, teacher, and institution success. In many educational leadership and administration graduate programs, professionals may develop the skills and knowledge they need to enact institutional and systemic policies, procedures, and reform. Professionals often emerge from such programs prepared to pursue licensure and provide leadership in K-12, collegiate, and other school and district settings including governmental, NGO, and non-profit organizations.

Professionals who have an advanced educational leadership degree or certificate might work in many capacities such as:

Assistant principals or principals

School administrators

Counselors

Deans, chancellors, vice presidents, or presidents of schools

Supervisors or directors

Content or curricula specialists

Professionals in these and other roles commonly work alongside educational researchers, scholars, and experts to enact change and promote success at all levels of education.

Who Might Pursue a Graduate Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration On-Campus?

Many people prefer on-campus education for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they prefer face-to-face interaction and in-person access to resources; perhaps they like structure and specific times for attending class; or maybe they simply like the feeling of being on a campus. These are all great reasons to pursue on-campus education.

Professionals in pursuit of graduate-level educational leadership programs may have additional reasons. First, they might want to attend a particular school where they live. Second, they might want to network with professionals more likely to work in the same city and school systems that they do (compared to an online program which might attract students from different cities, states, and even countries). Third, they might want to eventually teach or work within the very system in which they’re learning. Networking in person may help them attempt to do so. These are all potential reasons why students like you might prefer to pursue advanced Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus.

As to what types of people pursue advanced education in the field of educational leadership and administration, we can give you a sense. Most professional who do so already have experience working as teachers, supervisors, leaders, or in other capacities in K-12 education, collegiate education, adult education, or at school-based or central offices. They often have teaching certificates and at least some experience working in areas of leadership, administration, curriculum design, or advocacy. In most cases, professionals interested in educational leadership and administration have a passion for improving education and resolving problematic educational structures.

What Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs Are Available On Campus?

You can typically find the following four educational leadership graduate programs in on-campus formats: certificate programs, master’s degree programs, education specialist programs, and doctorate degree programs. Through any one of these Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus, students might be able to study a particular area of educational leadership such as educational policy, educational research, or student affairs and development.

Certificate Programs On Campus

Educational leadership certificate programs may be great for professionals who already have a master’s degree in an area other than educational leadership and administration. Depending on the program, it may make professionals eligible to apply for licensure or direct their career down the path of leadership and administration. Many on-campus certificate programs in educational leadership require one to two years of fulltime study, often times in courses shared with graduate students in master’s or doctorate degree programs.

The Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration On Campus

Students typically earn a Master of Science or Master of Art in educational leadership and administration over the course of one to two years of fulltime study. Depending on their program, they might emphasize one or more of the following areas:

The history, politics, and sociology of education;

Student learning and development;

Program curricula, delivery, and assessment;

Educational analysis and assessment (with an emphasis on data, statistics, and research);

Educational access and opportunity (with an emphasis on economics and diversity, for example)

Leadership

Administration

These are just some of the many areas of educational leadership and administration graduate students might emphasize.

In many cases, master’s degree programs in educational leadership and administration may help students prepare for professional licensure and to pursue work as assistant principals, principals, directors, supervisors, curricula specialists, and in a number of other leadership or administrative positions.

The Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration On Campus

Two common doctorate degrees in the field of educational leadership and administration are the Doctorate of Education (EdD) or Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Administration (PhD). While the EdD in educational leadership often emphasizes practical applications and may prepare professionals for work in leadership and administrative positions at schools (especially in K-12 and adult education), the PhD in educational leadership often emphasizes theoretical approaches to educational leadership and conducting research. Students may emerge from PhD programs prepared to work as educators and researchers in collegiate settings. To determine which type of doctorate program might be right for you, consider your career goals and discuss your options with a program director or counselor.

In most doctorate programs, students earn their EdD or PhD through three to six years of fulltime study.

What Might I Study in an Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus?

What you’ll study in your on-campus certificate, master’s degree, or doctorate degree program ultimately depends on the particular program. However, most graduate-level educational leadership and administration programs cover core and elective subjects as well as subjects that help students focus their studies. Depending on your program level, you might cover any of these subjects (and others) to varying depths:

The sociology, politics, history, economics, and anthropology of education

Curriculum, instruction, and assessment

Pedagogy and epistemology

Theories of leadership and leadership styles

Philosophies of teaching and learning

Literacy and learning (adolescent or adult)

Integrating technology in the classroom

Methods of educational research (quantitative and qualitative)

Legal and ethical aspects of leadership and administration

Using data, statistics, and analysis to affect change

Department, school, and district-level leadership

Diversity in the classroom and institution

Resource management

Special education

Content and curricula design

ESL, TEFL, and TESOL

Human development

Through studying these and other subjects, students may explore various principles and contexts of educational leadership and administration. Students may also take capstone or seminar-style courses that help them analyze problems and propose solutions for educational issues within these and other areas.

To conclude their Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus , students may need to pass a comprehensive exam, complete field work, or write and defend a thesis or dissertation. The structure and requirements of your program will depend on the school and programs goals and objectives.

Finally, many Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus design their credit hours, coursework, and field requirements to meet the minimum requirements for students to pursue licensure. Licensure requirements vary by state, and you may wish to attend a program that prepares you to work in the state where you plan to pursue employment. You can learn about state requirements by contacting that state’s Department of Education.

How Can I Find An Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus?

Below you’ll find a list of on-campus graduate programs in educational leadership and administration. Through each program link, you can learn more about any given program or contact programs directly for additional information. If you want to refine your Educational Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs On Campus search, say to browse by degree level or location, you can use our search tool on your left. Once you find a program you like, feel free to reach out. Your future as a leader in education awaits!

The M.Ed. degree in Curriculum and Instruction is designed for certified teachers seeking to become learning specialists in a selected area of the field of education, to advance within their career and to meet recertification requirements.

Coastal Carolina University

The Specialist in Educational Leadership (Ed.S.) degree is a rigorous and challenging program ‌that is fast-paced. Successful completion is contingent on being highly-motivated and able to balance professional and personal commitments with the demands...

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